Brookhaven, GA Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Brookhaven Code § 7-118(a) requires a permit before beginning construction, erection, alteration or repair to a building or structure, or to a mechanical, gas, plumbing, electrical or energy conservation system, other than ordinary repairs. Ordinary repairs to a single-family residential building need no permit. Permits for emergency work must be obtained within 24 hours after work is commenced.

Section 7-118(d)(1) lists building work that needs no permit: retaining walls not over four feet in height measured from the bottom of the footing to the top of the wall, unless supporting a surcharge or impounding Class I, II or III-A liquids; water tanks supported directly upon grade if the capacity does not exceed 5,000 gallons; painting, wallpapering, tiling, carpeting and similar finish work; temporary stage sets; prefabricated swimming pools less than 24 inches deep installed entirely above ground; swings and other playground equipment accessory to one- and two-family dwellings; window awnings supported by an exterior wall; movable cases, counters and partitions not over five feet nine inches in height; and detached accessory structures of 100 square feet or less. An exemption never authorizes work that violates chapter 7 or any other law or ordinance of the city.

Applications go on a form from the Community Development Department and must be accompanied by construction plans, the cost of labor and materials, the owner's legal name and the contractor's state license details. Under § 7-119, the plans are accompanied by a site plan drawn from an accurate boundary line survey and signed and sealed by a registered land surveyor, and single-family plans need not be prepared by a registered design professional unless the building official requires it in writing. The building official acts no later than 60 calendar days after a complete application is filed. An application is deemed abandoned 180 days after filing unless a permit has been issued. An issued permit becomes invalid if work has not commenced and passed a city inspection within 180 days, or if work stalls with no passed inspection for 180 days. The building official can grant three written extensions of not more than 90 days, the director of community development one more, and any further request goes to city council. The permit is posted 36 to 48 inches above grade facing the street.